One-way clutch



atented Sept. 9, 1'952 f ONE-WAY CLUTCH Carl E. Swenson and Adlel Y. Dodge, Rockford, Ill.

l Application February 1, 1949, serial No. 73,876

s claims. (ol. 19e-45.1)

This invention relates to one-way clutches and more particularly to frictional control of the in a one-way clutch assembly to provide afriction connection between the cage and one of the races. According to one feature, the friction device is of substantially the same weight as the gripper, and one or moreof the usual grippers can be replaced by the friction device without unbalancing the clutch assembly.

Another object is to provide a friction device which is formed as a complete unitary assembly to be handled and mounted in the clutch as a unit and which provides the required amount of frictional engagement with the race. f

Still another object is to provide a one-way clutch in which friction between the cage and one of the races is produced by a separate friction shoe slidably carried by the cage and urged against the desired race by a spring.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention'will` be more readily apparent when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure `1 is a transverse section with partsin 'elevation `through a one-way clutch assembly diameter than the outer race so that the outer race can turn clockwise relative to theinner race but is prevented from turningl counter-clockwise.

The clutch is of the tiltable gripper type employing a series of grippers I3 having theirI ends formed on dilerent radii so;that when vthey are tilted counter-clockwise they will bind between the races to connect them, and when they are tilted clockwise, they will release to permit relative rotation of the races. lThe grippers may be formed Awith central tangential `openings therein 2 to receive an annular,` coil spring I4 which is preferably bent laterally by engagement with the grippers so that itftends totilt` them counterclockwise toward their `engaged position.`

The grippers are'held assembled between the races by a cage formed by a generally cylindrical ring I5 having annular end portions and provided in its center with a Vseries. of axially extending openings I6 through whichV the grippers respectively may project. As shown in Figure l, the openings I6 are somewhat wider than the grippers so that they will not interfere with normal tilting of the grippers between their engaged and released positions. The cage is'completed by end rings l1 which'may be` split rings resiliently held on the ring l5. The `inner surfaces of the end rings are formed with circumferential grooves I8 to receive projections I9 onl the ends of the grippers thereby to limit both radial and tilting movement of the'grippers as described in said application of Carl E. Swenson. It may also be desirable in some cases to employ'a cage having relatively movable inner and outer rings as described and claimed in the patent to Dodge, No.2,404,221. f j

In order to insure positive and prompt engagement of the grippers,` a relatively heavy spring l 4 is employed.- During overrunning this spring tends to hold the ends of thegrppers in engagement with the racesproducing a relatively rapid wear on the grippers. `In order to correct this operation according to the present invention, a friction means is employed to create friction between a cage ring `andl the adjacent race in order that the cage ring will have a tendency to turn 'with the race 'to tilt the grippers away from the race surface. In this way a relatively heavy spring can be used Without producing wear on the grippers, it being noted `that all of thewear will occur onthe frictionmember which is designed for -the purpose.` It thus becomes `possible to utilize a heavy spring for rapid engagement of the grippers'while at the same time minimizing or eliminating-wear onlthe grippers during overrunning. Y,

According toitheipresent invention, the fricvtional connection visprovided by a separate uniward as shown at 23 to fit loosely into grooves 24 formed in the sides of friction shoes 25. The shoes 25 may be cut from strip bronze or like desired friction material which is extruded or otherwise formed with the section shown and which is of a size to fit slidably into the housing 2 l. In its upper surface the friction shoe is provided with openings ito receive coil springs 2l to urge the friction shoe outward of the housing.

To assemble the friction device, the springs may be inserted in the openings 26 in ,the friction shoe, and the shoe may then be slid lengthwise into the housing 2i. Engagement of the edges 23 with the grooves 24 will hold the shoe in the housing but will permit a limited amount of .movement of the shoe along the length of the `its sides, and the shoe is Yformed with a registering enlarged hole 29 to receive the coil spring l5.

When assembled on the spring, the friction def vice maybe handled in substantially the same way as a gripper to complete the assembly by placing it in the cage with the tabs or lugs 22 fitting into the slots l1 ofthe cage and rings. It will 'be noted that the .friction shoe 25 may be made wider than the grippers substantially to fill .a slot i6 since no tilting of the shoe is required. Thus even though the shoe is shorter radially than the grippers and the housing is relatively light, the complete friction device will have substantially the same weight as a gripper. In this way one or more than one of the friction devices may'rep'lace grippers in the assembly without producing any imbalance.

In operation, with the friction device assembled as Vshown in Figures l and 2, radial outward movement of the housing 2l is prevented by engagement of the lugsV 22 with the slots I8, andV the springs 2 press the friction shoe 25 inward into engagement with the inner race. The degree of engagement can be regulated by controlling the strength of the springs, and the amount or friction produced can be controlled both by selection of the proper spring strength and of a materialY having a desired coefficient of friction. With the friction device in place it tends to cause the cage `to turn with the inner race at all times but is capable of slipping over the inner race during overrunning of the clutch. In the event of failure or ldamage of a friction device, it can easily ybe replaced without requiring replacement of the entire clutch assembly or of the cage. l

While one'embodment of the invention has ,been shown and'described in detail herein, it will be understood. that Athis is illustrative only and is not to be taken -as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had 'for this purpose to the appended claims. Y

What is claimed is: 1

l. A friction device for use with a one way Y clutch comprising an elongated .channel shaped housing open atone side, an elongated'friction shoe in the housing slidable through vthe open side thereof, spring means in the housing urging 4 1 side thereof, spring means in the housing urging the shoe therefrom, interengaging parts on the housing and the Shoe Ito limit relative movement therebetween and relatively narrow projections at the ends of the housing for mounting it in a clutch cage.

3. A friction device for a one way clutch comprising `a channel shaped housing having the edge portions of its legs turned inward, a friction shoe fitting slidably in the housing and having grooves in its sides receiving 4the inwardly turned edges to limit relative movement of the shoe and housing, and a spring in the housing urging the shoe outward thereof.

4. A friction device for use in a one-way clutch of the type having an annular cage formed with openings therethrough and tiltable grippers ntting into the openings to engage races between which the cage is mounted; said friction device comprising a housing of a size andshape adapting it to t in an opening in the cage, a friction shoe tting slidably in the housing, a spring in the housing urging the shoe outward ofthe housing, and intel-engaging parts on the housing and the shoe to limit Ioutward movement of the shoe relativeto the housing. Y

5. A frictiondevce for use ina oneway clutch of the type having an annular cage formed with openings therethrough and tilta'ble grippers f1tting into the openings `to engage races between which the cage is mounted; said frictiondevice comprising a channel Section housing of a size and shape adapting it to t in an opening in the cage with the open side of the channel facing radially, a friction shoe fitting slidably in the housing, a kspring urging the shoe outward of the housing through the open side of vthe channel section the shoe having grooves in its sides, and bent over edges on the housing Vside anges fitting loosely in the grooves to limit outward movement of the shoe relative to the housing.

6. A friction device for use in la one-way clutch of the type having an annular cage formed with openings therethrough and tiltable grippers tting into the openings to engage races between which thevcage-is mounted; said friction device `comprising za channel section housing of a size and shape adapting it to fit in an opening in the cage with the open side of the channel facing radially, relatively narrow mounting projections extending outward from the ends of the housing, a 'friction shoe fitting slidably in the housing, a spring urging the shoe outward of the housing through the open side of the channel section, the ,shoe having grooves in its sides, and bent over edges on the housing side flanges tting loosely inthe grooves to limit outward movement of the shoe relative to the housing.

CARL E. SWENSON. ADIEL Y. DODGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

Number Name y 'Date 277,476 Frey `May 15,1883 345,652 sweeter si., Jui'y 13, 1886 565,004' Kinzer, Jr. -.i'u.1f,v 4, 189s 671,528 Royal Apr. 9, 1901 Y 943,730 Beatty Y Y Dec.l 21, 1909 2,364,280 Dodge 1 Dect 1944 2,389,961 

